TOUGH NIGHT: Juan Agudelo of the United States reacts during his team’s 1-0 exhibition loss to Ecuador last night at Red Bull Arena.Anthony J. Causi

After earning his first win as U.S. soccer coach on Saturday, Jurgen Klinsmann called last night’s game against Ecuador a benchmark for his team. The Americans were weighed and measured, and found wanting in a 1-0 loss in front of a yellow-and-blue-clad, pro-Ecuadorian crowd of 20,707 at Red Bull Arena.

The United States dominated the first half but allowed Jaime Ayovi’s goal late in the second. Ecuador’s Walter Ayovi sent in a cross from the left wing, and sub Jaime Ayovi knifed through the box, beat center back Tim Ream to the ball and headed it past keeper Tim Howard in the 79th minute for the only score of the night.

Now 1-3-1 under Klinsmann, the United States has mustered just two goals for their new coach and struggled to adjust from ex-coach Bob Bradley’s counterattacking style to Klinsmann’s possession game. Despite a 22-9 edge in shots — and 8-4 in shots on goal — the United States inability to score was as costly as its one defensive gaffe.

“We didn’t allow them too many chances. It’s just unfortunate we couldn’t get one earlier, let them stay in the game,” Howard said. “We had them controlled most of the game, but it only takes one.”

The struggling Ream — who saw Red Bulls teammate Rafa Marquez rip his play as “infantile” and say the other New York defenders weren’t on his level — had just entered in the 71st minute to a loud ovation from his hometown crowd. But just eight minutes later, one lapse largely erased a solid week of work.

“I was watching the man and as I looked back I saw the ball coming, he was past me as soon as I took a step,” Ream said. “That’s something I have to work on. Not just being more physical but winning balls in the air and being able to see more than one thing at a time.”

The game was a good test for the United States; Ecuador coming in red-hot after beating Costa Rica (twice), Jamaica and Venezuela by a combined 13-2. Meanwhile, Klinsmann has the luxury of not opening World Cup qualifying until June 6, still teaching playing styles and toying and tinkering with lineups.

With Landon Donovan and Stuart Holden both injured, Hoffenheim youngster Danny Williams started at right midfield in a 4-1-3-2 formation and looked like a seasoned vet. Center back Oguchi Onyewu was back to his physically dominant best, and young Timothy Chandler flipped from the right side to the left, shutting down Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia while also linking up well with Brek Shea.

“It went the other way [last night], and this is a very good experience, for these players to understand one little thing can change the game,” Klinsmann said.

“Those are the kind of split-seconds you have to be aware of. But we got to live through that. That’s a learning moment for Tim Ream, that he has to be in front of a guy, if he doesn’t get the ball, [the other guy] isn’t getting the ball either. But Tim needs these moments on that level in order to learn.”

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MLS commissioner Don Garber hosted three potential investors in his box for a second New York expansion club . . . and none was from the New York Cosmos group. He wouldn’t comment on how the Wilpon family’s court case impacts their interest, but said Randalls Island is now in play as a possible site.